“In the future he will bring honor to… the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. [The people] have rejoiced before you… for you have shattered their burdensome yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor… For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (from Isaiah 9:1-7, HCSB).
We see in this passage another promise concerning Jesus coming from the lineage of David. But we see much more than just that. Isaiah declared that the Messiah would “[shatter] their burdensome yoke” and do away with “the rod on their shoulders” and “the staff of their oppressor.” Jesus came declaring freedom!
We see this prophecy fulfilled in Matthew 4, where in Verses12b-13a we read: “He withdrew into Galilee. He left Nazareth behind and went to live in Capernaum by the sea.” Verses 15-16 of Matthew 4 go on to quote Isaiah 9:1-2.
The biggest “yoke,” the heaviest load on the “shoulders” of the people of Israel, was their religion. Their leaders had added and added to what God had commanded until the law had become incredibly “burdensome.” God, through Jesus Christ, lifted that burden, as Paul explains in Romans 8:1-4a: “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His Own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished.”
There’s something else I want you to see in the Isaiah passage: “A child will be born for us.” The word “for” is so significant here, folks. Please don’t miss that. The purpose of Jesus’ coming as an innocent newborn baby was “for us.” The purpose for His perfect life and willing death was “for us.” The purpose for His return is “for us.”
The infant Jesus had one purpose and one purpose only: to die for the sins of the world. All Christ suffered He suffered “for us.” And what He asks in return is that we believe in Him and tell others about Him.
All this He’s done for you. “For us.” What have you done for Him?
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